Southern Union Conference

GEO. I. BUTLER

REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT, GEO. I. BUTLER

The territory of the Southern Union Conference embraces the nine Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with an area of 431,205 square miles, and a population of 14,908,379, nearly one-half of whom are colored.GCB April 9, 1903, page 129.18

The Southern Union Conference was organized April 9, 1901, at Battle Creek, Mich., during the last session of the General Conference. At that time there were in this field but three organized state conferences, viz., Tennessee River, Florida, and Cumberland. All the rest of the territory was an unorganized mission field. In the entire territory there were 62 churches, having a membership of 1,900, which, with 680 isolated Sabbath-keepers, made a total of 2,580, reported believers. Upon closer investigation, this estimated membership was subsequently found to be much too large. At the time of organization, there were employed within the limits of this conference 24 ministers, 11 licentiates, and 30 licensed missionaries, making a total of 65 laborers on the pay-roll. Besides these, there were 65 canvassers, 20 medical missionaries and nurses, and 15 other workers who were laboring as self-supporting missionaries. The tithes received for the year ending Dec. 31, 1900, were $13,214.80. The total book sales reached a very gratifying figure, though the exact amount I have not been able to ascertain.GCB April 9, 1903, page 129.19

Since the last General Conference, five state conferences have been organized, as follows: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the two Carolinas.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.1

On Dec. 31, 1902, the secretary of the Southern Union Conference reported 80 churches, with a membership of 1,824, which, with the addition of those belonging to the unorganized companies and the isolated Sabbath-keepers, make a total membership of 2,240. In this Southern Union Conference there are 115 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 2,447; 30 church-schools, with an enrollment of 854 pupils; 36 church buildings, and 10 buildings occupied for school purposes.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.2

Within this conference there are 32 ordained ministers, 17 licentiates, 40 licensed missionaries, 31 canvassers,—a total of 119, 70 of whom are on the pay-roll. During the year 1902 the tithes received were $20,571.30; offerings paid to foreign missions, $2,178.44; total value of book sales, $17,029.02.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.3

OUR INSTITUTIONS

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Since the last General Conference, the Southern Publishing Association, of Nashville, Tennessee, has been organized and incorporated. Its workings and standing will be presented by those more directly connected with the institution.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.4

The Southern Training School, located at Graysville, Tennessee, is conducted for white students. During the past two years it has been favored with a good degree of patronage. At the present time the provisions for boarding and lodging students are not adequate to accommodate all in attendance, so quite a number are compelled to occupy rooms outside the home. The principles of Christian education, as taught by Prof. J. E. Tenney and his associated in the school and throughout the field, are awakening a deep interest in the cause of education in the minds of both parents and youth. This to us is a very gratifying result. In this line of work the outlook for the future is most hopeful.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.5

The Oakwood Industrial School, located near the city of Huntsville, Alabama, is an institution for the education and training of colored youth. At the present time this school has an attendance of about forty students. Three teachers are employed.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.6

Although another will speak more in detail concerning this school, yet, as this is the only institution in the world, in connection with the third angel’s message, that has been established for training workers among the colored people, I will state that it seems to us that greater and better facilities must be provided there, in order that this institution may be a more efficient agency for the development of laborers for this long-neglected and downtrodden race. In order to accomplish this, there must be a stronger force applied than is at present possible with the weak resources at the command of the Southern Union Conference. If satisfactory results are to be obtained, there must be awakened both in the North and in the South, in behalf of this needy institution, a more general interest than can possibly be raised simply within the limits of this Union Conference. This session of the General Conference ought not to adjourn without adopting some measure that will place the Huntsville Industrial School on a footing that will harmonize with the call of God for this hour.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.7

I will say that this statistical report which I have read is a very fair statement of our condition in the South. It was prepared by Elder Kilgore, when he supposed I should not be present. I will speak further of matters needing consideration.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.8

The territory of the Southern Union Conference is a great field. Though not so thickly populated as many of our Northern fields, it contains nearly fifteen millions of people.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.9

We have had our difficulties there. The financial question has been one of great difficulty. It meets us at every turn, when we try to move ahead in any direction. I might say to you that our Union Conference is considerably in debt. We had to borrow $2,000 to pay off our workers who had labored faithfully and needed their money to keep them from distress. The pay-roll has been cut down very materially, so that the conference itself shall not be buried more deeply under debt. How we are going to sustain the laborers who are really needed in the field is a question that we would be very thankful to have this Conference help us to decide.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.10

It has been intimated here, since I have been present, that we ought to send more laborers into that field to help us, and surely they are greatly needed. But when you begin to talk of sending laborers down, the question that stares us in the face is, “How are we going to pay them?”GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.11

(A. T. Jones: Let the conferences that send them support them.)GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.12

If this were done, it would do much toward solving our financial problems. But our situation at present is very perplexing. The income of the Southern Union Conference is not sufficient to pay all whom we should like to keep at work in the field. Under these circumstances, we can not feel free at present to appeal to our sister conferences in the North to send us laborers, for we could not support more than we already have.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.13

In comparison with the work in most of the Northern states, our work is in a backward condition. Not until hundreds and thousands of men and women had accepted the Sabbath truth in the North, and many conferences had been organized, was any minister sent to the South to raise up churches. Notwithstanding the comparatively short time during which the message has been proclaimed in this field, and the many peculiar conditions against which the laborers must contend, much has been accomplished. The organized conferences, however, are not strong either in numbers or means, and must therefore, receive help from some source, in order to do more aggressive work.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.14

Unfortunately some of our good brethren in the North have gone to the Southern states to labor with the expectation of finding a field where the work would be easy. Such laborers have met with disappointment, and in many instances have returned to the North. These short visits to the South are not of much benefit to the field. We welcome additions to our force of laborers; but if we were permitted to choose, we would ask for men and women whose hearts are filled with love for souls, rather than with a desire to find an ideal field of labor. Some sections of the South are somewhat malarious, it is true, but, taken as a whole, the field is an unusually healthful one. During my fourteen years’ residence in Florida, I never suffered from malaria, and I never had a cold.GCB April 9, 1903, page 130.15

As we have carefully studied the needs of the work in our field, taking into consideration the peculiar conditions to be found there, we have thought that it would be advisable, so far as possible, to encourage our young men and young women living there to prepare themselves to enter the work in their home land. In our training-school at Graysville, Tennessee, we have many noble youth who, we believe, will develop into invaluable laborers. Other things being equal, we feel certain that the strength of our work depends largely upon our efforts to develop consecrated home talent.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.1

At the same time, I desire to assure you, brethren, that the people of the South greatly appreciate the helpers furnished them by some of the stronger conferences in the North and the West. I might mention California, Iowa, and other conferences, in this connection. These laborers have been doing good work, and are highly prized by us all. May God bless you abundantly for your liberality, shown us in so practical a way.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.2

There are many portions of the South that are in great need of help. The president of the Mississippi Conference makes a special appeal for help. That is a state in which there are nearly as many colored believers as white. The treasurer’s report at the last camp-meeting showed that the colored people, poor day laborers, had paid about half of all tithe that came into the treasury.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.3

The Cumberland Conference, which is, I think, the oldest conference, is fairly well supplied with funds, as far as tithe is concerned, to pay their laborers, but I presume they would be glad of more laborers if they had funds with which to pay them. Tennessee River Conference is also a large and a flourishing conference, but is, I think, rather in need of funds. Little Florida, where I have my home, has always paid its own bills, and never had a gift from the General Conference or anybody else. We hope it will always be that way. Georgia especially is in great need, and so also Alabama. Louisiana is prospering.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.4

Then there are the great cities in the South,—Atlanta, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, and especially New Orleans, and other large places in the South. Very little has been done in those cities. Sister White has spoken very plainly that we must enter these fields, and I do believe the time has come when we should go into the cities with a force that will make our presence and influence felt. In the Southern cities there are much wealth and intelligence. We have secured the services of Elder John A. Brunson, who is a very valuable laborer, and has done most excellent service. I thought if we could get a large tent, we might do a great work. The California Conference might perhaps be induced to donate us one. They have been very generous to us, and we trust they will continue to be.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.5

I know that, if we obey God, we shall certainly go into these cities. I believe God will help us. I can not doubt it, if we go with humble hearts and in His fear.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.6

SANITARIUM WORK

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I will now speak of the institutions that we have in the Union Conference. The testimonies in regard to the Southern country have set before us the importance of small sanitariums. We have tried to carry that instruction out. Many people of nearly every leading city of the South have been up to Battle Creek, and have the greatest respect for the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Dr. Kellogg has told me that quite a large portion of their patronage has come from the South every year. Now there is an interest in this work all through that country, and a ready response has been made to the efforts we have endeavored to make. There is a feeling all through the South, among the more intelligent classes, in favor of our system of treatment and the health-reform truths that God has given us. This will be of immense advantage and assistance to us in starting our sanitarium work in various places. Our brethren have taken hold of this work nobly and liberally.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.7

An institution has just been started in Graysville. I am not prepared to speak especially in reference to that. But we are all glad to know that God’s blessing is upon it, and it is going through all right.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.8

We have made arrangement by which we expect to use the building at Atlanta, which was formerly owned by the “Review and Herald,” for sanitarium purposes, and plans for this have already been laid. We have considerable money yet to raise. We really need help in starting this where locally there are so few that can help us financially.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.9

In New Orleans a restaurant is in operation; the health work is being started, and we hope to have a sanitarium there not long hence.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.10

In Nashville, Brother L. A. Hansen has been laboring successfully with treatment-rooms for several years. He has had a restaurant also, and we think we will soon have a full-fledged sanitarium there.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.11

We have started sanitarium work in Louisville, and it is going favorably. In Hildebran, North Carolina, we are also doing work in this line, and with proper assistance we hope soon to have it in running order. There must be institutions established in other cities all through the South. We do not expect to build great, overgrown sanitariums, of course, but small ones, just as the Spirit of God has said that we should, all through that Southern country.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.12

SCHOOLS

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Now in regard to our schools. We have an excellent school at Graysville. It is not a large school, but it is conducted in a way that secures excellent results. You will understand this when I tell you that there was but one scholar that went away last year at the close of the school but what was converted to God. I wish you could be in some of their meetings, and hear the earnest young people speak of what God had been doing for them, and of their desire to go out into the work of God and prepare themselves for usefulness.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.13

What shall I say in regard to our Huntsville school? You can not understand, you can not grasp, the difficulties connected with the colored school that we have there. Your schools, so far as I know, depend on the tuition largely for support. What would you do when you had not a scholar that could pay tuition? Then how would you go to work to support your schools? Very few of these colored students have any means; they can just barely get to the school.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.14

The school is located on a farm of about 360 acres, in a very pleasant and beautiful locality. The building was once an old farmhouse of the Southern style, where Andrew Jackson and other leading dignitaries had been. The farm ran down, and we got it cheap; but we have been struggling along under adversities.GCB April 9, 1903, page 131.15

Brother S. M. Jacobs, who went down there from Iowa, was a great blessing to that work. He remained there until his wife was unable longer to continue bearing the responsibilities and labors there, and he had to leave.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.1

We have been trying to keep the school and the farm going. It has been almost impossible to do it. We have not been able to make a wonderful show. For the past two or three years they have had from forty to fifty scholars there. The more intelligent and able colored men in the South would naturally be drawn to such schools as Mr. Counsel’s and Booker T. Washington’s. We can not present all the inducements that they can, and we have not a great many colored people in our Conference—only a few hundred—to draw from.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.2

The colored work is hedged about with all kinds of difficulties. I wish some of you could have some of the experiences the rest of us have had there in trying to keep that work going. There is a great work to be done; we are not beginning to do what we ought to do in the colored work; but how to meet the difficulties of the situation has been a matter that has perplexed us.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.3

We have hoped, and I still hope, that it will not be a great while before we can make our white work in the South self-supporting. But I have no hope that we can ever make our colored work self-supporting. I want to say to you, brethren, as representatives of the whole field of white people in the United States of America. I want to say to you that you are just as much responsible in this Northern country to help sustain that colored work as we are in the South. With all the difficulties we have to support and enlarge our white work in the South, why has not the North, which has thousands of dollars of tithe and a great constituency to draw from, just as much, yea, even more, burden to sustain the colored work than we who are struggling under all these difficulties in the South? I want to impress upon our people the great need of their help. We are told by the “Testimonies” that we are not beginning to do our duty to the colored people. I know it is so, for we are making but a dent in the great mass of the nine millions of colored people in the South.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.4

We need colored laborers, but it is difficult to find them. There are hundreds of fields all over the South where, if we had intelligent, devoted colored laborers that would go out and prepare the way, we could quadruple our colored work in a short time. There is an ear among the colored people to hear. They feel friendly to us; they know that our position is not like that of the other white churches, and they are willing to hear; and so in almost all places we find ears to listen to the truth. But we are completely tied; hand and foot, with scarcely any means to use. Brethren, come to the rescue. I feel the burden of that great, dark field of nine millions of people. Many of them are poor and in great distress. The Lord has been pleading with us for years especially in regard to the colored work.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.5

We have recently begun to do what we could at Huntsville to improve the conditions there, and make it possible to bring in some more students. About twenty acres of fruit trees have been set out this spring, but we are hampered at every step.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.6

I have been in the work for a good while, but I never got into anything that puzzled my brains more than I have this year in the South. I never worked harder or with more perplexities. These things make a man’s heart ache, and would bring discouragement upon his soul if he did not have great faith in God. I want to say, brethren, we simply must have help. We want you to take it into consideration. We plead with you to help us bear these burdens.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.7

If ever I felt as though we must do something, I did when we made a trip over here last May and June, and our brethren so kindly and generously met us and helped us here in the state of California. I can never forget it. But we did not raise nearly all the means we needed to raise, and what we might have raised under more favorable circumstances. If there had been that unity of feeling and sympathy, we might have got a great deal more than we did just as well as not. We strained every nerve to try to bring in means to help in our publishing association and in other ways.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.8

THE SOUTHERN MISSIONARY SOCIETY

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Now I want to talk about another point,—of the work of our Southern Missionary Society. Many of you, doubtless, have heard of it. Let me give you a little historical information in regard to it.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.9

It was some eight years ago that Brother Edson White felt like giving himself more directly to the work of God; and in view of what his mother has said, he felt a burden to work for the colored people. He took that burden upon his heart, had a little steamer built called the “Morning Star.” With this he went down into the hardest spots they had in the whole Southern field,—down in Vicksburg, Nachez, Yazoo. Around in that country I suppose there is as little favor shown to the colored people as anywhere in the South. He labored thus for about five years. He had quite a little company of workers associated with him, Brethren W. O. Palmer, Fred Rogers, and others, and they labored there at the risk of their lives. The white men around said their meetings must stop, and they took one of the workers and put him on the cars and told him to leave; and I think there were two or three colored people killed. Sometimes, Brother Rogers tells me, men going by would fire a rifle ball right through his house; and when he went up to Yazoo City, he had to go in the night, and come back in the night. Sometimes when the vessel was anchored, and while they were having meetings on it, there would be plans concocted to destroy and burn it—I do not know what they would have done to the persons on it—but God in His infinite mercy in some way would give them the information, and they would sail away, and when the men got there, they did not find the vessel. Many things of this kind might be mentioned, but this is sufficient to show that the brethren labored there at the risk of their lives. I do not know just how many people were brought out there.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.10

Many of the colored people receiving instruction were ignorant; they labored intensely hard to learn, and night schools and other schools were established so that these people might receive instruction. I think there was one old lady seventy or eighty years old that wanted to learn to read her Bible for herself; she went to one of these schools, and got so that she could read her Bible. More than one hundred were brought into the truth in this way. There is quite a large company there yet. Four or five schools had to be kept up, and they have had the greatest struggle to get the money to keep these schools going.GCB April 9, 1903, page 132.11

There has been some misunderstanding, some lack of information, and I think some wrong feeling in regard to the work of the Southern Missionary Society. But I believe that the Southern Missionary Society has done a great deal of good. I will say it fearlessly before this whole Conference that there never has been made an effort in this cause for the colored people that accomplished as much as that work has done for them.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.1

Now, my brethren, I do not propose to go back to that kind of work. I would to God there was a good deal more of it,—more men who would risk their lives, and go there. Why, they have got just as good missionary fields there as you have in the central part of Africa. Our brethren are working to get laborers over into Africa, and all right, but, for the Lord’s sake, help us to reach that class of people right here, under far more favoring circumstances.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.2

The Southern Society has kept up a legal existence. It is really a legal society, and it has had its officers elected. Those officers have consulted together, and I have the honor to be one of the members of that official committee of the Southern Missionary Society. Brother Horton, of Louisiana, is another. I do not believe he is ashamed of it; I am not.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.3

A large number of colored people among our laborers came forth from that missionary society. I believe, brethren, that it has been the means of bringing in the most hopeful body of colored people we have down there today; and if there is any reason in trying to reach the colored people, and save the colored people in Africa, there can be no reason why this effort, made at such great risks, is not to be endorsed and accepted by this denomination. Perhaps this is all I will say on that subject. I think Sister White will have something more to say on it; I hope so, and others, perhaps, who are more fully acquainted with all the workings of the society. I am heartily in favor of the good work that has been done by this society, and I am sure that those who have labored so intensely hard are worthy of our respect.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.4

THE SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION

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Now I wish to speak of our publishing association. We have a little publishing association that is properly organized under the law of Tennessee, in Nashville. It is a small affair, comparatively, and we have been under great embarrassment. We have had great difficulty to keep it going at all. If it had not been for the strenuous efforts of a few of us to raise money for it, I think it would had to close up last summer. It was kept running with some losses. It never has paid its way. When the building was put up, efforts were made to raise money for it all through the North, and money enough was contributed to erect it without running it in debt. But a building put up does not make a printing office. You have got to have presses and various other facilities,—all those things that enter into the printing work,—and you know they are not a few; and they all cost money. We did not have money enough raised to meet those expenses; hence we have been limping along, like a person on one leg, just barely able to keep going, laboring under the greatest difficulties. With such a lack of facilities, we could not do our work in the way that was economical, but had to do it in the hardest way possible, and we have not got out of our difficulties yet.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.5

I have in my hands here a communication from Brother J. N. Nelson, who is now our business manager, which I desire to read:—GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.6

LETTER FROM MANAGER SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION

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“Elder George I. Butler—GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.7

“Dear Brother: According to your suggestion, that I make a statement of the situation here as it now appears to me, I desire to submit the following:—GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.8

“In the first place, I wish to say that, in harmony with the light given us. I fully believe that this institution has been established here in Nashville for a purpose, and that it has a special work to do in carrying the message to the people of this large and needy Southern field. To advocate the plan of abandoning this office would simply mean to turn our backs on the light given, and also plainly acknowledge that, while other denominations, notably the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, maintain large and successful central houses of publication in this place, we, Seventh day Adventists, with a special truth to proclaim, are not competent to discharge the trust committed unto us, and that we can not successfully compete with people of other denominations along business lines.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.9

“We believe the Lord stands ready to bless every legitimate effort in connection with this publishing house. Yet, at the same time, it would seem presumption on our part to neglect to plan for the work which it is intended to do and to equip our plant properly, and then expect that, in spite of our neglect, the Lord is going to work a miracle in our behalf.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.10

“We are fully convinced that the brethren who have borne the burden in connection with the management of this office in its incipiency have labored hard and under many trying and discouraging circumstances. Being handicapped for lack of means, and yet anxious to get the work started, they commenced operations while unprepared by proper equipment, capital, and general support, and were naturally unable to meet the situation successfully. It is readily seen that with a very limited amount of work to do, and without proper or necessary machinery and capital, a printing plant can be operated only to a disadvantage and at a loss.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.11

“Aside from the forces of the business office and of the editorial department, a certain amount of help is absolutely necessary to set, print, and bind our periodicals; yet with the small edition required by our present list of subscribers, this is, comparatively speaking, but a small task, and the same is the case with the few books that we have been printing and binding here. To lay off the help the moment it is not required does not seem feasible, as no one could live by working two or three days a week.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.12

“Again, what might be termed the general factory expense, like the general superintendence, clerical force, editorial department, taxes, fuel, light, power, insurance, repairs, etc., are practically the same whether the plant is running to its full capacity or its facilities are only utilized in part, not to speak of the discouraging and demoralizing effect on the whole force when there is but little or nothing to do and it is evident to all that the business is carried on at a loss.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.13

“The only remedy, seemingly, would therefore be to provide more work from some source; and, so far as we can see, this can be brought about only by receiving it from the outside, or else by enlarging our own work so that it will demand our entire facilities. Of course, it is the hope and aim of every one connected with our institution that we may soon be able to adopt this latter alternative, and the force be employed fully and wholly in the bringing out of our own books and papers; but, until such a time shall come, it would appear to us to be perfectly proper, in harmony with the Testimonies, for this office to do a sufficient amount of commercial work, at a fair rate of profit, to keep our plant fully employed, and as speedily as possible endeavor to attain to a self-supporting basis.GCB April 9, 1903, page 133.14

“Yet, when it comes to doing our own work, as well as catering to the outside work, we find ourselves very much handicapped on account of a lack of proper equipment. We have no printing press that will register accurately, or that is capable of doing a good grade of work. The presses that we do have, even with the most careful handling, will spoil a set of plates in a short time, and it would seem that we must have a first-class press, by all means.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.1

“Other items of machinery that are just as urgently needed are a folder, a sewing-machine, and a press that will enable us to stamp our book covers. Of course, we can fold by hand, as we have been doing, but in this way it costs us three times as much as by machine, besides being a very slow process. We can hire our book covers stamped and our books sewed, but the prices charged for this class of work are seemingly exorbitant, or about twice as much as the work ought to be done, for at a good and reasonable profit, not to speak of the inconvenience, the loss of time, and the expense incurred in carting back and forth the signatures and other work a couple of miles to the center of the city, to wait the convenience of the establishments there. If we could have a very small electrotype plant, there is no doubt it could be made a paying factor, and would prove a great convenience.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.2

“Besides the equipment of machinery, we shall need a certain amount of money to carry on our business in a proper way. Since coming here, we have been under the necessity of placing every dollar that we could get hold of to the liquidation of old indebtedness, and we still have large payments to make on machinery, stock, note at bank, etc.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.3

“It will be readily understood that it takes money to purchase material for an edition of our books, or for any other work in progress, also that labor has to be paid for weekly, and that, on the other hand, it is rather a slow process to wait for the returns from the sale of our publications.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.4

“We believe that with the plant reasonably well equipped for the work it is intended to do, and with a proper share of our publishing work in hand, this institution, instead of being a dependency and a burden upon the denomination, may, under the providence of God, be made a great source of strength and encouragement to the work here, and be able to fulfill the mission to which it has been ordained in the dissemination of the truth. We are not in favor of building up a great overgrown plant, like the old Review & Herald, but we do think there is a possibility of erring in either direction. We simply desire to be in a position to do our own work in a manner that will be for the best interests of all concerned.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.5

“We sincerely hope and pray that the brethren will carefully consider the wants and needs of the Southern Publishing Association, and the demands made upon it as a representative of the cause which is dear to all our hearts.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.6

“Your brother in the work, J. N. Nelson.”GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.7

I think, brethren, this statement by Brother Nelson is a very fair presentation of our situation in the Southern Publishing Association. As I have said, the money we received last year has been largely used to pay some debts and to meet the losses sustained in publishing our denominational papers. We now desire to place the office on a self-supporting basis.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.8

We are very thankful to have connected with the office a man of ability, and with whom we can entrust the management of business details. All outgoes are carefully watched, and every discovered leakage is stopped. We believe that with a little help the work can be made self-sustaining.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.9

We all acknowledge that the Nashville Publishing House was established in God’s providence. Every one who believes the statements of the spirit of prophecy must believe that this office in the South has a definite mission, and that it is the duty and the privilege of our brethren and sisters in the North to help establish it on a firm basis. Our office is to be helped, just as the “Signs” Office and the “Review and Herald” Office were helped years ago. I have the utmost confidence to believe that we shall yet see the Nashville publishing institution in a flourishing condition.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.10

I well remember how we struggled in order to start the “Signs” Office. Before a beginning had been made, I came to California with Brother and Sister White, in the early seventies, to attend the second camp-meeting ever held in this state. Elder Loughborough, who was present, will never forget the occasion. While here in that early day, I did what little I could to help raise money with which to establish a printing office on the Pacific Coast. I do not think I ever saw money given so liberally as it was given at that meeting. Some $19,000 was pledged by probably less than seventy-five persons. Some who had not the slightest idea of giving more than $50 decided, after hearing the appeal, to give $500. One sister gave $1,000.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.11

But the early history of the establishment of the “Signs” Office does not end with the raising of the original fund with which to begin the work. Any one who is familiar with this history knows that appeals for assistance were afterwards made in the East. Sister White urged Brother Haskell and myself to make a general call to all our churches in the East to subscribe for the “Signs,” and to give of their means to establish more firmly the Oakland office. I believe our brethren will now manifest the same liberal spirit toward the Nashville office, in order that we may be placed in a position to publish literature for the millions living in the Southern states.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.12

In our field efforts are being made to strengthen the Nashville office by selling as many books as possible. We are endeavoring to develop canvassers. During the year 1902 there were employed 52 canvassers. Throughout the year the number averaged about 35. At present there are about 30 in the field, with the prospect’ of a much larger number at the close of our schools. Thirty-four Graysville students have been studying the canvass for various works, with the expectation of engaging in this line of work more or less during the summer vacation. Several from the Huntsville school will be added to our force of canvassers during the summer months.GCB April 9, 1903, page 134.13

Brethren, I thank you for this privilege of speaking to you in regard to the Southern Union Conference. May the Lord give us wisdom to lay right plans for the advancement of the work in this field is my prayer.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.1

RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING SOUTHERN FIELD

No Authorcode

C. P. Bollman: I would like to ask the privilege of introducing the following resolutions, in order that they may be printed in the “Bulletin:”—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.2

Whereas, We have been told that there should be a publishing house in the South, with facilities adequate to produce the literature for that field; and,—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.3

Whereas, The plant of the Southern Publishing Association is not, as it now stands, adequate to do the work economically; and,—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.4

Whereas, That association also labors under the embarrassment of being without necessary working capital; therefore,—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.5

Resolved, That we give the Southern Union Conference our moral support and active cooperation in making an appeal to our people in America to raise a fund of $10,000 to complete the equipment of the Nashville office, and to provide that office necessary working capital.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.6

Whereas, The Southern Publishing Association was brought into existence for the express purpose of publishing tracts, papers, and books especially adapted to the needs of the Southern field; therefore,—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.7

Resolved, That the influence of the General Conference be and is hereby given toward securing to the said publishing association the entire denominational printing and publishing work of the Southern field so that the Southern Publishing Association shall produce practically all the publications circulated in the South through denominational agencies.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.8

Whereas, Our constituency in the Southern field is comparatively small, and the number of canvassers there entirely inadequate to do the work that ought to be done: therefore,—GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.9

Resolved, That an earnest and continued effort be made to secure to the Southern field a large number of successful canvassers, and that to this end we solicit the active cooperation of the presidents and canvassing agents of all our Northern and Western conferences.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.10

C. P. Bollman: I move the adoption of these resolutions.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.11

W. J. Stone: I second the motion.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.12

The motion prevailed.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.13

A. G. Daniells: I move that their consideration be deferred until they are printed.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.14

C. P. Bollman: I second that.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.15

Carried.GCB April 9, 1903, page 135.16